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A stupendous explosion gave birth to the universe. The intense energy of that explosion is still unfolding in the story of creation. Every being that has existed and will exist, every event that has happened and will happen can trace its beginnings to that blazing instant when creation flared forth. An image of bursting energy recalls the awesome explosion that gave birth to the universe.

The Birth Of The Universe

I n the beginning the Spirit said:
"I'll make a fire and from its warmth
Let all creation come flaring forth.
Let matter and energy converse
To weave the tale of the universe,
And through the course of time and space
I'll touch the story with my grace."

As the explosive energy of the newly born universe cooled and expanded, minuscule particles bonded together to become atoms. These atoms, in turn, gathered together in massive clouds which, compressed by the force of gravity, burst into blazing stars. Over a long, long time, billions of stars formed in configurations called galaxies. An image in the form of a spiral galaxy calls to mind the long process that gave birth to the galaxies and to the stars.

The Birth Of The Galaxies

Then the Spirit said:
"Let the fire begin to dance
In cooling clouds of elements
Where the tug of gravity
Draws atoms into galaxies,
And hugs the stars till they ignite
To fill the darkness with their light."